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1998 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

87 reports with mileage · 192 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

11 reports
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150,000 miles · Jun 6, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT: ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP ON THE 1998 CHEVROLET GOES OUT EVER 10,000 MILES, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES ALREADY. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10124388

109,000 miles · Sep 20, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. CVONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE INTO A CURB. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS AND PUMP WERE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10092789

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED FUEL SMELL ARE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10079570

75,000 miles · May 11, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. ONCE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED FUEL TANK COLLAPSED. *AK THE COLLAPSE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS DUE TO THE VACUUM THAT PUMP FUEL FAILED TO VENT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10065225

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING GAS TANK IS LEAKING FLUID. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8014856

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineTires

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BROKE DOWN DUE TO ELECTRONIC TRANSFER MODULE MALFUNCTION, IT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE REAR FUEL TANK TO KICK IN, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL SENDER, BALANCE PUMP CONTROL AND TRANSFER PUMP, CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE INOPERATIVE FUEL TRANSFER PUMP. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #565544

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE WAS LOSING FUEL MILEAGE AND FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY/ BACK FULL, THEN TO NORMAL, AND READING 3/4 FULL. AFTER CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF, VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESTART. INDEPENDENT GARAGE GAVE BACK OLD FUEL PUMP SO CONSUMER COULD SEE THE PROBLEM. WIRING ON PUMP AND FUEL GAUGE HAD MELTED AND FUSED …

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VEHICLE WAS LOSING FUEL MILEAGE AND FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY/ BACK FULL, THEN TO NORMAL, AND READING 3/4 FULL. AFTER CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF, VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESTART. INDEPENDENT GARAGE GAVE BACK OLD FUEL PUMP SO CONSUMER COULD SEE THE PROBLEM. WIRING ON PUMP AND FUEL GAUGE HAD MELTED AND FUSED TOGETHER ,SHORTING OUT FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD REPEAT AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALSO, COULD OCCUR WITH NEW PUMP.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #887357

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

IN WET CONDITIONS FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH WILL ACTIVATE, CAUSING FUEL TO STOP GETTING INTO ENGINE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE QUITTING TO RUN( STALLED). THERE IS NO OVERRIDE BUTTON ,IT MUST BE RESET BY COMPUTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #878688

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON,AND THEN AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. NOT THINKING THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEIGHBORS BROTHERS SERVICE STATION. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEN TOLD US THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR(S) PUSHED GAS ALONG THE ELECTRICAL LINE TO THE ECM. WHEN THEY…

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ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON,AND THEN AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. NOT THINKING THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEIGHBORS BROTHERS SERVICE STATION. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEN TOLD US THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR(S) PUSHED GAS ALONG THE ELECTRICAL LINE TO THE ECM. WHEN THEY REMOVED SOME CABLES TO THE ECM GASOLINE POURED OUT. THEY THEN TOOK THE PLASTIC CASE OFF ONLY TO FIND THE CASE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THEY TOLD US THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THE TRUCK HAD NOT BLOWN UP. WE CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALER CLOSEST TO US. WHEN MY HUSBAND TALKED TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER HE SAID LET ME GUESS YOU HAVE A CHEVY TAHOE. CHRIS SAID NO, A SILVERADO. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN THE TAHOE, BUT NOT YET A SILVERADO. THE ONLY THING WE WERE TOLD IS THAT POSSIBLY THEY WILL PAY HALF OF THE SERVICE. THIS IS THEIR PROBLEM NOT OURS. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT A REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD CONTACT US THURSDAY. TIME IS JUST TICKING AWAY! WE DID NOT ASK FOR THIS TO HAPPEN! PLEASE HELP US. MY HUSBAND USES HIS TRUCK FOR WORK (TO HAUL HIS TOOLS TO AND FROM THE JOB SITE) HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK! PLEASE CONTACT US TO LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO. THANK YOU! *AK

NHTSA ODI #718515

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #711908

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA05007 · Tailgate Support Cables

Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed Apr 11, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch; Structure:body:tailgate ; Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

Structure:body:tailgate

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

RQ04010 · Tailgate Support Cable Breakage

Opened Sep 28, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch; Structure:body:tailgate ; Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

Structure:body:tailgate

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

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